TDRS-K will join a constellation of satellites that provides tracking, telemetry and data relay capabilities during low-Earth orbit missions. It will be launched into a geostationary orbit by an Atlas V rocket. TDRS-L is scheduled for launch in 2014 while TDRS-M is scheduled for 2015, NASA said.

Jeffrey Gramling, NASA’s TDRS project manager, said the new fleet of relay satellites will upgrade the space agency capabilities for a range of science missions.

An early TDRS satellite is deployed by the space shuttle. (Source: NASA)

The new satellites include upgraded solar panels to provide more spacecraft power. The upgrade also will return signal processing to the ground. Ground-based processing allows the satellite to handle more communications functions, the space agency said.Related stories: